What is the good news of God? These first words spoken by Jesus in Mark give the core of His teaching: that the long-awaited Messiah has come to break the power of sin and begin God’s personal reign on earth. Most of the people who heard this message were oppressed, poor, and without hope. Jesus’ words were good news because they offered freedom, justice, and hope. Does the message of the gospel bring freedom, justice, and hope into your life?
Mark begins his account of Christ’s ministry with events after John was put in prison (Mark 1:14), as do the other synoptic Gospel writers. John is the only writer who informs us of a number of events that took place before John the Baptist’s imprisonment (John 3:24).
Mark begins his account of Christ’s ministry with events after John was put in prison (Mark 1:14), as do the other synoptic Gospel writers. John is the only writer who informs us of a number of events that took place before John the Baptist’s imprisonment (John 3:24).
Our Lord Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). It was the subject of much Old Testament prophecy, and the theme was familiar to Jesus’ listeners. Repent, and believe are both acts of faith. When a person accepts the only true and worthy object of faith, that person readily turns from inferior substitutes. Read closely to what Mark 1:14-15 says; it is telling us that Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel and telling the folks to repent and believe in the gospel. Jesus did not say anything about water baptism being part of the message that He was proclaiming.
Don't get me wrong... water baptism is a very important Christian doctrine. When a person recognizes who Jesus Christ really is, the result is the desire to do what He commands. The first action that Jesus requires of a new believer is baptism (see Matt. 28:19, 20), the outward expression of inward faith. The idea of an un-baptized Christian is foreign to the New Testament (Acts 2:41; 8:12, 36; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 18:8).
Believers are baptized in view of God’s work of forgiveness, not in order to receive that forgiveness. God’s forgiveness in Christ gives baptism its significance. Baptism is a public declaration that a person’s sins have been forgiven because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross. This is the core meaning of the ceremony of baptism.
Now let us take a look at the word "repent". In the Bible, repent means to turn from something, sin and self, and to turn to someone, and that someone is Jesus Christ.
Word Focus: repentance - (Gk. metanoia) (1:4; Matt. 3:8; Acts 5:31; 11:18) G3341: This Greek word is a compound word derived from meta, meaning “after” and suggesting some type of change, and nous, meaning “mind.” Thus the word strictly denotes “a change of mind.” But it also connotes remorse for sin, accompanied by a desire to turn away from one’s sin, to God, for salvation. Both John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries with a call to repentance (see Matt. 3:2; 4:17)—a call that many of the social outcasts and “sinners” of that day answered (see Luke 19:1–10), but that the religious people rejected (Luke 11:39–44; 18:9–14).
Now let us take a look at the word "believe". Believe is a synonym for faith. Faith is defined as the confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. Faith does not always rest on logical proof or material evidence.
Jesus is telling us that after we repent of our sins we must believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) to be saved. Otherwise, we must repent and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life (John 14:19; Rom. 6:4-10; Eph. 4:15, 16, etc.); “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Gal. 5:6; Acts 15:9). All who thus believe in Christ will certainly be saved (John 6:37, 40; 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:1).
The faith = the gospel (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5; Gal. 1:23; 1 Tim. 3:9; Jude 3).
Father God, I continue to pray for the lost souls who have not repented of their sins and come to You, by faith, and accepted Your Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Father God, it is my prayer today that all who reads this post will make this the day of their salvation. I pray this all in Jesus' Holly name. Amen.
References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), Nelson Study Bible, and Easton's Bible Dictionary.
14 comments:
Great teaching and Amen to your prayer!
Hey Lloyd, thanks for the commentary! Now I am following you in your blog. You are more than welcome to read my blog. God bless you!
Nice work. the teachings of Jesus are often overlooked .
I really enjoyed your blog too. I may your prayer be the light for many Christians who read your blog. God bless you.
Thank you. Amen.
Not only am I reminded with His truth but I love praying your prayers with you. God bless and keep you, bro.Lloyd. And your family.
Thank you for another really good, clear post.
I appreciate your clear knowledge of the scripture. Thanks for sharing!
What a great blog you have! Thanks a bunch for leaving a nice comment on mine! I to am a new follower
have a blessed day
Summer
This is a very good post, I really like the way it is written!!! And I pray as well . . . right now, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that whoever reads this post, that they will turn their lives over to the one and only Lord and Savior . . . Jesus Christ. Amen.
ARE YOU SAVED?
Salvation is a past reality: We have been saved by the death of Jesus Christ. While we were still sinners, Jesus’ death canceled the bond that stood against us (Colossians 2:14). In other words, the guilt of original sin has been wiped away.
God pardoned our sins. But being pardoned isn’t the same as being holy. Being pardoned gives us back our freedom to choose the road to holiness, to walk the narrow path. Right now, today, we are being saved. Grace is wooing us down the narrow path. We are becoming holy. Salvation is an ongoing event.
We can easily verify salvation as an ongoing event—just look at the world around us. If salvation was a past event, then Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II would be a dime a dozen.
Instead, they shine like stars in the darkness. The world is a cultural and spiritual battleground—a collision between the culture of life and the culture of death.
This, however, is nothing new. St. Paul described man’s predicament in these terms: "What happens is that I do, not the good I will to do, but the evil I do not intend. But if I do what is against my will, it is not I who do it, but sin which dwells in me" (Romans 7:19-20).
Whether you’re St. Paul, Pope John Paul II, or living in St. Paul, the reality is the same: We are being saved because grace has not yet fully transformed every area of our mind, emotions, desires, and will into the mind, emotions, desires, and will of Christ.
I will also add my agreement to your prayer.
Excellent teaching here, Lloyd.
I wanted to stop by and say
thank you for letting me know
you are praying for my family
and me. I noticed you had left
a comment for me on the Scarf
Sisters blog. Thanks again.
Richest Blessings,
Sandy
Michael - Thank you for your visit and comments. To answer your question... ARE YOU SAVED? I have to say. "YES". I have a personal and intimate relationship with our Lord Christ Jesus. My relationship with our Lord is based on FAITH alone by the GRACE and MERCY of God. I am SAVED and do not need to continue to earn my way too Heaven. Our maturity as a Christian is an ongoing event, but our SALVATION is secured in Christ.
In Colossians 2:14 -- Not only were our personal sins forgiven at the Cross, but those rules that condemned us have also been removed by the death of Christ. We can enjoy our new life in Christ because we have joined Him in His death and resurrection. Our evil desires, our bondage to sin, and our love to sin died with Him. Now, joining Him in His resurrection life, we may have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin. Our debt for sin has been paid in full; our sins are swept away and forgotten by God; and we can be clean and new. Please read Ephesians 4:23, 24 and Colossians 3:3-15.
Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II are good examples of people that have given their lives over to God as the thousands of Christ followers before and after them. All of these folks were dedicated to do God's will. However, this had nothing to do with "Salvation as an ongoing event" because these folks were already saved. All of the "good works" that were done by these Christians were done because they had "Jesus" indwelled in them.
In Romans 7:19-20, the Apostle Paul is saying that without Christ's help, sin is stronger than we are, and sometimes we are unable to defend ourselves against its attacks. That is why we should never stand up to sin all alone. Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin once and for all, promises to fight by our side. If we look to Him for help, we will not have to give in to sin.
In the love of our Lord and Savior Michael, I invite you to go over to the "Labels" section of this blog and open up all of the posts regarding "Salvation" and read them. It is my prayer that the Spirit of God will convict you of the truth. God bless you. Lloyd
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